A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle (11) with a second vehicle (72) that transmits a second position signal. The first vehicle has a pre-crash sensing system (10) includes a memory (14) that stores vehicle data and generates a vehicle data signal. A first global positioning system (18) generates a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle. A first sensor (20) generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle. A receiver (22) receives a second position signal from the second vehicle. A countermeasure system (40) is also coupled within the first vehicle. A controller (12) is coupled to the memory (14), the global positioning receiver (18) the first sensor (20) and the counter measure system (40). The controller (12) determines a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal. The controller determines a first vehicle trajectory from the vehicle data, the first sensor data signal and the position signal. The controller (12) determines a threat level as a function of the distance and the first vehicle trajectory and activates the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle proximate a second vehicle a counter-measure system comprising: generating a vehicle data signal; generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle; generating sensor signals from the first vehicle; receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle; determining a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal; determining a first vehicle trajectory from said vehicle data, said sensor signals and said position signal; determining a threat level as a function of the distance and said first vehicle trajectory; and activating a counter-measure system in response to the threat level.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a vehicle data signal comprises generating a vehicle type signal, a vehicle weight signal or a vehicle size signal.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle comprises generating the first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle from a global positioning system.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein generating the first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle from a global positioning system comprises generating an update signal at a predetermined interval from the global position system and generating a first position signal during said interval as a function of said update signal and speed and acceleration.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating sensor signals from the first vehicle comprises generating a speed sensor signal, a yaw rate sensor signal, a steering wheel angle signal or a lateral acceleration signal.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal in response to a global positioning system.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal directly from the second vehicle.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal from a repeater station.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein activating the counter-measure comprises deploying and airbag or changing a bumper height.
10. A method as recited in claims 9 further comprising when the distance is below a first threshold and above a second threshold, activating a second display.
11. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising when the distance is below a second threshold, activating a third display.
12. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising when the distance is below a second threshold, activating a counter-measure system.
13. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a vehicle data signal comprises generating a vehicle type signal, a vehicle weight signal or a vehicle size signal.
14. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle comprises generating the first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle from a global positioning system.
15. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle proximate a second vehicle a counter-measure system comprising: generating a vehicle data signal; generating first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle; generating sensor signals from the first vehicle; receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle; determining a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal; determining a first vehicle trajectory from said vehicle data, said sensor signals and said position signal; when the distance is greater than a first threshold activating a first display; and when the distance is less than the fist threshold, activating a counter-measure system.
16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising activating a second display when the distance is below the first threshold.
17. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal in response to a global positioning system.
18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal directly from the second vehicle.
19. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle comprises receiving the second position signal from a repeater station.
20. A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle with a second vehicle that transmits a second position signal, said first vehicle having a pre-crash sensing system comprising: a memory storing vehicle data generating a vehicle data signal; a first global positioning system generating a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle; a first sensor generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle; a receiver receiving a second position signal from the second vehicle; a countermeasure system; a controller coupled to said memory, said global positioning receiver, said first sensor and said counter measure system, said controller determining a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal, determining a first vehicle trajectory from said sensor data, said sensor data signals and said position signal, said controller determining a threat level as a function of the distance and said first vehicle trajectory, and activating the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.
21. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a first display coupled to said controller for displaying information in response to a first threat level.
22. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a second display coupled to said controller for displaying second information in response to a second threat level.
23. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a third display coupled to said controller for displaying third display information in response to a third threat level corresponding to an activated counter-measure.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 23, 2002
December 2, 2003
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